The Historic Zimmerman House Museum is a delightful, turn-of -the-century farmhouse situated in a rapidly urbanizing area of Northwest Gresham in East Multnomah County, Oregon. The farmhouse is located on 5.98 acres, a remnant parcel of the original dairy farmstead that at one time extended over 600 acres of reclaimed bottom land along the Columbia River. The historic Zimmerman house and 1.58 acres of historical property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 5, 1986.

From the time Jacob and Lena Zimmerman purchased the property in 1869, the Zimmerman family had continuously lived on the farm until the death of their youngest granddaughter, Isobel Faith Zimmerman in 1992. It was Isobel's desire that the house, contents and remaining 2.38 acres of farmland be developed as a historic house museum for future generations. In 1987, Isobel joined the Fairview-Rockwood-Wilkes Historical Society(FRWHS) as a charter member. Subsequently, Isobel willed the home to FRWHS for the purpose of preserving the house, its comprehensive collection of artifacts, its gardens and grounds. In 1994 the land was donated to the City of Gresham for the purpose of creating a community park. FRWHS received title to the home in 1995. In 1996, the City purchase an additional 1.5 acres directly west of the House and in 1997 Kenneth Holfman, Isobel's nephew, donated and additional 2.1 acres to the City bringing the overall park site to 5.98 acres

In 1997 FRWHS commissioned Robert Dortignacq of Dortignacq & Associates Architects, Portland Oregon, to investigate the structural integrity of the house and develop a restoration-rehabilitation and accessibility plan for the house.

In 1999, the City of Gresham commissioned Slusarenko Architecture, PC to develop a Master Plan for the development of historical City of Gresham Park called the Zimmerman Heritage Farm.

The historic house and the grounds are managed through a partnership arrangement between the City of Gresham and FRWHS, whereby the City owns the property and FRWHS owns the house and its contents.

Interpretive Approach -
Interpretation for the Zimmerman Heritage Farm will focus principally on the lives and times of the Zimmerman family and on dairy farming in East Multnomah county region. History will be communicated through living history presentations, exhibits, and educational programs and activities.

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